Aura's Antics

The Nerd Test

2008-11-09T22:42:00.001-08:00

NaNoWriMo

2008-11-09T22:19:00.000-08:00

I've done it. I signed up for NaNoWriMo to begin the book in a month challenge. The basic idea is to write 50,000 words in one month. That's a lot. But, the real challenge for me, and the reason I signed up, is because I've barely written in the last year. A new job, planning a wedding and taking on the role of Goody Bag Chair for the 2008 Emerald City Writer's Conference turned out to be a lot of work. Not an excuse, just that writing took the back seat. Now that all of those things are done, it's time to get back to my passion.

I need to write for me. For the joy of the story and the characters I love. Because I have so many more stories to tell. So joining NaNo was my way of jumpstarting the writing process, getting me back into the creative flow and making me responsible to myself. It's time to do this for me.

Late, as always, I began my journey and tonight I added 1,865 new words to Set In Stone. It's a good start. I'm pleased with it. It's rough and it's a journey, but I'm on it and couldn't be happier. May this be the start of a wonderful new year. I'm a writer. I'm an author. And soon, with hard work, dedication, and a little bit of luck, I'll be published.

Return of the Blogger

2008-01-22T09:01:00.000-08:00

So, it's been quite a long time since I've been here. I had originally moved over to Word Press and it seems that the blog has magically disappeared. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the problems that the Deadline Divas had or not. Not sure if you knew, but the Divas had been hacked back in December and we were never able to create posts. Our fabulous web Diva could have recreated the blog with old posts, but with busy Divas and busy guests, it didn't seem worth it. As for my own blog, I'll ask the fabulous web Diva what happened there. I think though, that I really prefer Blogger as a format. Maybe it's just because I'm used to it. Or was anyway...

What's new with me you ask? (Or perhaps you don't because it's been so long) I'll tell you anyway. I'm planning my wedding to my wonderful Beau and still trying to get that synopsis written. Don't ask about work though. I don't want to talk about it. I've also got a sick kitty who will hopefully be feeling better in the next few days. If not, the house may not recover. (Constipation + laxative = icky) Poor guy. Too much info? Well, it has been awhile since I've posted. You were overdue.

Anyhow, hope all of you are doing well! If you happen to pop by and see this, drop me a note to say hi. Chow!

3 Things

2007-08-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

Over at the Deadline Divas today, Ellen asked a very good question about going back to 12 years old. That got me thinking about the things I would change in my life if I had the opportunity.

You know, I've really tried to live my life without regrets and so far I've done pretty well. Sure I've had a few and those I've had have been BIG regrets, but some things you just can't see coming. Everyone makes mistakes in life. I don't know if I'd be who I am if I didn't make them, does that make sense? Still, there are things I would change. And things that I wouldn't.

This may be too personal to ask, but what 3 things would you change about your life? Or what 3 things wouldn't you change?

I'll go first. Here are 3 things that I would change:

1) I'd have gone to college and finished a degree in English. I see now that having a degree, any degree, can really help you in the business world. At the time I was going to school, it didn't seem all that important.

2) I would have stayed far away from a certain boy. I'm sure there would have been another down the road, but that's beside the point. ;)

3) I would say "To hell with everyone else and their thoughts and expectations!" and gone for what I want at an earlier age.

Looking back over my list, I realize that I can't change the past. But I can definitely change the future. It's never too late to go back to school. (Boys shmoys... I have a great man now!) And going for my dreams is one of the most important things to me right now. Onwards and upwards. It's time to have the life I want with few regrets! :)

And I wish the same for all of you.

Come On Baby, Let's Do The Twist!

2007-08-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

You all go ahead and dance, I'm going to sit this one out. Seems that I twisted my ankle yesterday while going to see Harry Potter at the movie theater. Not much fun, in case you were wondering. ;) Swolen, black and blue... really not my best colors. LOL

Other than that, things are going ok. Looking for a new job. Trying to do some writing and get back into that groove I was in back in June. Struggling with the committee for the Emerald City Writers Conference. And basically just trying to keep my head above water.

How are all of you? I'll definitely try to get back to blogging three times a week or so.

Talk to you soon!

S-L-A-C-K-E-R

2007-07-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

What's that spell? *THWAP*!!! LOL

Ok, I've been neglecting my blog and all you faithful readers and for that I truly apologize. I've been neglecting writing too. The only thing I can say in my defense is that I'm still so freaking tired. So sorry all! :(

Today I'm taking the cop out and am taking you on a field trip to the lovely Deadline Divas where I am blogging about viruses. Watch out, you've already been infected and you don't even know it!

The Week In Review

2007-07-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

So what exactly have I done in the week since returning from Nationals? Let's Review:

1. Worked my ass off at work trying to get everything done for the end of our fiscal year.
2. Slept. (I'm still exhausted. K says I need more iron and I'm pretty sure that she doesn't mean a frying pan applied to brain, but not 100% sure.)
3.... (I'm sure there must be something else...) Oh yeah, shopped. Money has been burning a hole in beau's pocket. Since Monday we've bought a $1600 surround sound system (men!) and a couple hundred dollars in curtains/curtain rods for the biggest window in the house.

Not a lot of writing in there, if you haven't noticed. :( I really need to spend a couple of hours plotting what happens next in Set In Stone, writing, and setting down what goals I plan to accomplish by this time next year when I go to San Francisco for Nationals.

How about you? What have you done in the last week? Anything to advance your writing? And if you went to Nationals, do you have plans for what you will accomplish by this time next year?

Uh Oh

2007-07-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

Looks like the Deadline Divas are temporarily down. (Pesky internet!) Rest assured we'll be back shortly!

Back Home!

2007-07-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, technically I made it back on Sunday, but being wiped out from so much fun and getting back into the work groove, it's been a bit tough to get back to the blog. So how are you? Did you have fun while I was gone? I missed you all terribly (even those of you I saw in Dallas- LOL) and wished I could blog. But at $10 a day, the internet gets a little pricey.

So here are a few tidbits from conference. I'll share more once I have a brain.

1- Blinking feather boas look fabulous on Diva Kait (even when she refers to it as a dead chicken)

2- Kim Amburn is really cute and I'm totally jealous of how great she is too

3- The bar is your friend, even if you don't drink. We had many great conversations there and met lots of fun people

4- Jane Porter is a wonderful speaker and a great inspiration. She's also tremendously generous and just wonderful to be around.

5- The RWAOL party is not to be missed. Great food, great people, great prizes and great fun. What's not to like?

6- If you say hi to a publishing professional in the elevator lobby, don't be surprised if they don't respond. Chances are, they just aren't prepared for a pitch even if you don't plan to make one to them. I don't think it's rudeness and I can sympathize with how many times they must have had total strangers come up and say "Hi, my book is about a caveman on Planet Z who meets a witch traveling in an abandoned space ship that crashlands directly in front of his cave and the mad sex that results from their meeting. Can I send you my manuscript?"

7- Not everyone who goes to conference enjoys themselves and some are very greedy with the free books. It's a lesson in patience to not take total offense when someone chews you out in the line for a booksigning, just because you wanted to actually look at the book before you get it signed.

8- Always take twice as much money for hotel food than you would normally think to bring.

9- I brought home around 60 books from this conference, which just goes to prove what a wonderful place it is to learn, grow, and how generous the publishers are with their books. They want you to read so that you'll buy more from them. :)

10- There is something so wonderful about meeting the people that you talk to on a pretty regular basis online. There is a special connection there, and even more so since we're all writers working toward the same goal. The shared passion and joy is remarkable and few things compare to it.

So to all those whom I met, you were wonderful and I hope to see you again. For those of you who didn't go... San Francisco 2008! And to the many wonderful authors out there- keep going. Romance readers are growing by the thousands and they want your (our) stories. :)

Leaving, on a jet plane...

2007-07-09T21:22:00.000-07:00

I'm off to sunny (oh-so-sunny) Dallas, TX for RWA Nationals and I'm so excited! And have I mentioned unprepared? Right now, the only thing I have planned is to have a drink at the bar tomorrow night. Anyone care to join me? If you're going and you want to say hi, email me and we'll meet up! :) To everyone else, have a wonderful week! Seeeeeee ya!

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July everyone! May you and yours have a safe and happy holiday!

Work, work, work...

2007-07-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

That's the only thing in my head right now, as a coworker is off enjoying herself in lovely Ireland and I get to pick up the slack. Yay me! (sigh)

On the writing front, I kicked butt this weekend and wrote something like 12 or 13 pages. I'm loving these two characters. It's nice that they're so completely different from Caspian and Drena, although I loved them too. The story is moving at a faster clip too, which hopefully means good things. It takes place mostly at night, since that's the only time the hero isn't laying around like a nice marble statue. LOL Kissing him during the day is just like kissing the Blarney Stone! Anyhow, as you can see, I bumped up my word count pretty good and am hoping to get another 10 pages in this week.

How about you? How is your work going?

Tagged 8

2007-06-26T20:35:00.000-07:00

Here are the rules:
A. Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.
B. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. I have approximately 150 to be read books on my bookshelf.

2. I have an instruction manual on how to be a villain. Includes how to dress like a villain, how to get henchmen and minions. Where to find your secret lair... it might be my personal handbook, but I'm not sure I'm ready to admit that.

3. I believe in the Loch Ness Monster.

4. I'm a pet to my cat.

5. I find movie quotes particularly appropriate in everyday life and frequently inflict them on my friends and family. And my friend and I can quote almost the entire movie The 'Burbs by heart.

6. I love poker. Of any kind. Must. Back. Away. From. Cards!

7. I once wrote a fanfic story that was compiled into a book with other stories and given to the actors of the tv show.

8. The most terrified I have ever been was while sitting in the back of a pickup truck with 20 other people in the pouring rain, carreening at break neck speed down a road two cows wide on the side of a mountain in Albania.

Tag! You're all it! Mwahahahahahaaaaaaaa (From chapter 7 of being a villain...)

Boys And Their Toys

2007-06-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

So the honey went out and bought himself a $1300 42" flat sceen tv today as a birthday present to himself. I didn't mind since we had the money. But to me, a tv is a tv. Granted, it's better than the boulder we took out to the garage that this tv replaces, but if it gets a picture, I'm happy. I don't watch tv that much anymore anyhow.

But this got me thinking. Boys and their toys is such a common phrase and it's so true. Men love their gadgets and their shiny new tvs. But how often do you see this side of them in a romance novel? Maybe it's just the kind that I'm reading, but I can't remember ever seeing even one book. Yet how often would this apply? In a suspence, the guy could be excited over his new gun. In a historical, his new sword. What about a futuristic? He could be excited over the newest laser or teleporting device. I think that this is a simple side of men that really makes them human and identifiable to women. It's one more facet that we can use to bring our characters to life. I think I'll use it somehow in my next story. What do you think?

And We're Back...

2007-06-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

The Deadline Divas site is now up and running. We return you to your regularly scheduled madness...

The Deadline Divas Are Down

2007-06-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hopefully not for too long. The building the server is in was involved in a fire. The damages are being assessed as we speak. We'll continue to update you as we have news. Thanks for being patient!

Fieldtrip Day

2007-06-21T04:13:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's that Thursday again. You know what that means... time for a trip to the DDs (laughing at my own bra joke) where today, I'd like to talk about blow up dolls. Er... heros. Something like that. But if you have any good blow up doll stories, feel free to drop by and share them. Otherwise it's going to be kind of quiet over there. Half the Divas are on vacation. ;)

Monday Moaning

2007-06-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

I'm ready to go back to bed. In fact, I really didn't want to get up.

I've got an appointment with Human Resources today to talk about some issues going on here at work and I'm really not looking forward to it. I'm sure it'll be fine, I'm just second-guessing myself, you know?

It was a good weekend over all though. We had a 10 year old guest stay with us and hang out with the boyfriend's 14 year old sons. We went to the bookstore and went bowling. Fun was had by all. The down side was that I had a migraine on Saturday and didn't do any writing this weekend.

What did you do this weekend? Get any writing done? And is it ok for me to go back to bed now?

Deadline Diva Day

2007-06-14T07:17:00.001-07:00

I'm over at the Deadline Divas today, chatting about fun ways to kill off characters. Drop on by and join me!

A Walk In The Park?

2007-06-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Summer time is a great time to get out and do things. So today, I bring you a new fieldtrip. It's an interview with Kate Duffy, Editor Extroidannaire of Kensington. Go here.

It's a good interview and quite helpful, but I don't mind telling you, it makes me a bit nervous as an author. We have to be as good as what is selling? Yikes! Those authors have been edited at least 7 or 8 times before the book ever hits print. I guess what she means is that the story has to be as good as what is selling now, and that my friends, is no easy task. I'm a bit intimidated, I tell you. What are your thoughts?

The Writing Groove

2007-06-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

What does it take to get you into that groove in writing where the words are just flowing out of your fingers?

Yesterday I was feeling the need to write, so I called up my friend Lesa~Dragon and asked her to do a timed writing challenge with me. We did one the other night, writing for 45 minutes and then reporting our progress. It worked great so I thought another challenge would be good for us both. It didn't quite work out the way I thought though. We talked about writing, did some research online and I did some editing of the previous pages. Finally, three hours later, I decided enough is enough with the slacking! Time to write. And write I did. I added another 2200 words to my WIP, Set In Stone. Somewhere around 500 words I hit my groove and the words just flowed. Thinking back on it, I really had to make myself sit down and write. I struggled through those first couple pages. It all sounded like crap. But I perservered and finally hit my stride. All in all, I'm happy with yesterday's progress. For me, I guess it just takes getting through that rough patch and really warming up.

What does it take for you to hit your stride?

Thursday Field Trip

2007-06-07T08:07:00.001-07:00

Today I'm blogging over at the Deadline Divas, talking about sagging middles. The kind in your book, not the kind that many writer's suffer from around their waist, including myself. ;) Although Kait currently isn't suffering from that since she's been going to the gym so much. She looks fab, dahlink.

Drop by the Deadline Divas and tell us how you get through that tough period of the book!

When You See Me In Dallas...

2007-06-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

I'll be wearing the PRO pin I received in the mail yesterday!!! Woot! Just thought I'd share the good news. Any one else have good news (or bad news) to share?

Fieldtrip Thursday

2007-05-31T04:39:00.000-07:00

Today I am blogging over at the Deadline Divas. Please stop by and volunteer to be my lab ra... er, volunteer your very helpful information on researching a novel or novella. :)

Thwack!

2007-05-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

That sound you hear is the sound of a book hitting the wall. Finally finished reading the book I mentioned in an earlier post with all the head-hopping, and what a roller coaster it was.

In the beginning, I blogged about how hard it was to get through the head-hopping. Not that I was confused about who was speaking, just that it was irritating. One page had three different points of view on it and I felt like a ping pong ball.

When I was able to get past that, I found that I truly enjoyed the characters. They were off beat, but I really wanted the hero and heroine to get together. It was fun and light-hearted and I even liked the secondary characters. Yet one particular question was left nagging until the end. Would the hero ever reveal that he knew all along about the supernatural side of life?

I wondered all through the climax of the book and the wedding between the two characters. Surely they wouldn't get married without her knowing the truth about him, right? Wrong. So on their honeymoon, he decides to reveal just how well he knows about the supernatural side of life... BY TURNING INTO A WEREWOLF! He smugly figures that though the heroine will be upset at first, her scientific curiousity will eventually forgive him. At that point, the book hit the wall. Actually, that close to the end, I just skimmed the last 8 pages. The heroine forgave him for lying to her all along and her scientific curiousity did indeed win out. Give me a break. The whole thing was absurd and as a reader, I felt... well I'm not sure how I felt. Cheated? Lied to? One thing I do know is that this book is off to the bookstore. It's had great reviews so someone out there will enjoy it, I'm sure. It just wasn't for me. :(

On The Road Again

2007-05-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend the boyfriend and I are heading over the mountains to eastern Washington to go visit his dad. It's a beautiful place with lots of wildlife and even a boat trip out onto the lake if we're lucky. There's not a lot going on there, so I can work on my writing without the tv being on, sit and think, or just do whatever I want! It's going to be lovely. Plus, on the way over, we're taking a book to read out loud. We did this when we visited his Dad last year and it was a blast. Now we just have to decide which book. Any suggestions?

What are you doing this weekend? Anything fun? What are you reading right now?

Thursday Field Trip

2007-05-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

I'm blogging over at the Deadline Divas today, asking who you would invite to a dinner of authors. Stop by and chat with us!

Generosity

2007-05-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'm always impressed with the generosity of some authors. I don't know if it is just within RWA and the romance community or if it extends beyond, but I must say that the people within the community are wonderful. As Goody Bag Chair for the upcoming ECWC, I get first hand experience with just how generous they are. Of course, a lot of it is self-promotional, but sometimes it really goes beyond that. What other genre is so generous with author critiques in order to help the newbie writers get better? Or gift baskets to pamper and indulge yourself to get those creative juices flowing? What other genre of authors is so willing to help others learn their craft?

Some authors even go beyond. Many give out of their own pockets. Cherry Adair, for instance, at last year's conference awarded not one but three conference fees to this year's ECWC and even gave away a complete trip to Nationals. (That was won by my friend Shelli who is VERY lucky! LOL) Cherry's not the only one either. So many authors are generous with their time, talents and money. Think of Brenda Novak and all the people bidding on her auctions!

It's amazing to me, and when I make it as an author, I want to be just as generous. These people are great examples. Don't you want to be one too?

Call For Goodies

2007-05-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

Attention Authors:

A great self-promotion opportunity

** Permission to forward **

The Emerald City Writer’s Conference in Seattle, Washington is hosting it annual conference Friday, October 26th through Sunday October 28th. This is the largest romance conference on the west coast. Our featured guest speakers this year are Jane Porter, Jayne Ann Krentz, and Christina Dodd, with special guests Stella Cameron and Cherry Adair. With such great speakers and approximately 250 attendees, the conference is great exposure for participating authors. We’d love to have your donations!

Send as much or as little as you like. We would be grateful for whatever materials you would like to send. In addition to books and traditional promotional items, we also welcome gift baskets and/or gift items that can be given away as door prizes or used in our raffles.
Please email the Goody Bag Chair, Aurrora M. Scott at Aurroras@gmail.com for more information or visit the Emerald City Writer’s Conference website at http://www.gsrwa.org/emerald_city_con/ECWC_Main.htm

Additionally, as a portion of our raffle proceeds goes to DAWN, Domestic Abuse Women’s Network of South King County, we encourage authors to consider donating a critique.

Thursday Field Trip

2007-05-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

I'm blogging over at the Deadline Divas today. Stop by for a visit!

I wish my cat could help with my grammar! LOL

Family Reviews

2007-05-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

When I said that I'd written a book, most of my friends and immediate family wanted to read it. I waited until I'd done some good editing, then printed off a few copies and sent them out. At first, I had some trepidations. It is a romance after all, which means that is has... dun dun dunnnn... SEX SCENES! (The horrors!) I mean, how would I feel about my dad reading the scenes? Should I take them out? No, because this is the book that I wrote and I'm proud of it. So, out the copies went.

The reviews from my friends were all very positive. Everyone loved the book. I was encouraged!

The first family review to come in was from my 20 year old sister. She liked it and said it was better than some books she's read. No comment on the Scenes, so who knows if she skipped them or not. Then I got another review. This one from my ultra-conservative sister-in-law. She commented that she had to skip the so-graphic-they-were-porn scenes, but other than that she liked the book. Now for the record, I don't write erotica. These scenes may have had the word "breast" in them once or twice, but they aren't scorching. They are tame compared to some romances I've read, but she didn't agree. In fact, she got off the phone with me and basically told my parents I'm writing books full of erotica. They of course called me concerned. (They haven't read the book yet) Could their child be writing porn? OMG! How could the whole book be about sex? (Sigh)

Now of course, they want to read it for themselves. Again I wonder, should I edit the scenes so my dad doesn't have a heart attack? No, he's not a virgin. He knows about this sex stuff or I wouldn't be here. Ok, I agree, I'll make sure they get a copy of it. As is.

I've decided after speaking with said sister-in-law, that it's really ok that she hated the sex scenes. I'm not always going to get good reviews. Some may be downright awful. I just have to remember that everyone has different tastes and sometimes consider the source.

(I should mention that my sister-in-law wants me to rewrite it as an inspirational since some of the characters believe in God. I don't think I will, but if I bomb out in the regular market... LOL )

So what about you? Has your family seen any of your romance writing? What were their reviews like? Do you take them with a grain of salt like I did?

Tagged: Just the facts ma'am

2007-05-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

The wonderful Shelli Stevens tagged me to write about my random facts and habits.

Here are the rules:

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Here goes:

1. I have approximately 150 books on my to-be-read shelf. I went through a book buying phase and simultaneously quit reading for awhile. (LOL)

2. I spent 2 months in Albania when I was 19

3. I like to collect old books and have some beautiful versions of Robinson Crusoe and The Lady of the Lake from the 1800s

4. I have 2 short stories compiled in a Witchblade TV series fan-fiction book that was given to the actors at the only Witchblade conference in 2002

5. I'm currently building my Aurrora St. James website with Lesa-Dragon's help

6. I'm the oldest of 6 kids, but had no siblings at all until I was 11 years old.

7. I've always wanted to own a book store and coffee shop. Preferably in Scotland (LOL)

8. I'm allergic to gold

I tag: Ellen, Honey, Erica, Kait, Lesa~Dragon, Lucy, Rhoda, and Jos! (Do it only if you want to)

** Good news everyone! I sent out my application for PRO status this morning! WOOT! **

Head Hopping

2007-05-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

I have never been bothered by head-hopping in a book. I know it is not always looked upon favorably by some editors and agents, but there are many well-published authors out there who do it. I've even done a little in the book that I'm submitting, though I really tried to keep it to a minimum. (That's not easy, by the way. I like to know what's going on in everyone's head- LOL)

However, the current book that I'm reading has head-hopping in the extreme. The author switches point of view to each new character that is introduced, sometimes for only a paragraph. In one page, there could be three points of view. I have to tell you... that is distracting. I'm finding it difficult to keep reading.

Honestly, I'm not one to really nitpick over a book and I certainly don't want to bash the author. I'm just struggling through this book.

What about you? How do you feel about head-hopping? Has it ever taken away from the story before?

Submitted

2007-05-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

I took a big step the other day and finally submitted a query letter for The Crystal Princess. It was spur-of-the-moment-should-have-been-working time, but I did it none the less. The query actually turned out pretty good (a shock to me since I haven't written very many) and I sent it off with only a small hitch. I sent it from a different email address than I gave them! *slaps forehead* When will I get this submission thing right? LOL

Anyway, it should be 5 to 10 days when I hear back from the lovely Kristen Nelson agency. I'll let you all know what they say! The way I see it, it will be good either way. Either she'll ask me for pages or turn me down. But if I get the dreaded rejection letter, I can then apply for PRO membership! So it's all good, right?

(Everyone please pray that they ask for a partial! LOL)

Channeling Scooby Doo

2007-04-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Kait over at the Deadline Divas puts up a writer's challenge every Monday and they're always interesting. Today was no exception. I find it fun to exercise my creative writing muscles and come up with a scene, character and situation. Today I found myself channeling Scooby Doo out of the blue. It was silly and fun and hopefully gives everyone a good laugh. I love when characters come to me from out of nowhere.

Do you find that happens to you? What are your most memorable characters that just suddenly appeared?

Backstory and Other Odd Thoughts

2007-04-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

You know, if this cough and sore throat don't go away soon, there's gonna be hell to pay! Seriously, it's been two weeks. I'm ready to be over this.

Ok, I feel better now that I'm done ranting about my health. I've also decided that I really need to blog more. Aside from the added bonus that it would be writing a lot more often, it just generally seems like a good idea. Get used to putting writerly thoughts on paper. Now I just need the writerly thought...

*blank look*

*chirp* *chirp* (Are those crickets?)

*blink*

Anyway, I'm sure I'll have one soon and then I'll blog about it. LOL

Oh wait, I have one! Backstory: Don't bog me down with it.

I get daily emails from Romance Designs with excerpts from upcoming books that I might like. This is a really great way to advertise as it gives the reader a peek inside before they buy and also sends new authors your way. So the other day, I start getting emails for a book coming out by a best-selling author. The premise looks good, so I start reading the excerpt. It's ALL backstory. Not a thing happens in the first email. Second and third email are the same. By this time, the only thing the heroine has done in 2500 words is pack a suitcase and answer her front door, yet I know everything about her including why she grabs the pendant around her neck so often. How does a best-selling author get away with this, I wonder.

Next, I'm currently reading an anthology. The first two stories are really good and I enjoyed them. The third story immediately bogs me down in backstory again. No kidding, in the first 8 pages the only thing that happens is that the heroine sees a wolf and gets dressed. Again, another best-selling author. Even in a short story, I don't want to drown in backstory.

I have not read any other work by either of these authors so I don't know if it's just their style. But at this point, I have no desire to keep reading. And it really makes me question the rules of writing. I've heard time and again how you should keep backstory to the bare minimum or out of the first chapters completely and reading these stories I see why. It really makes me wonder how did these authors got these works published. Is it based on the fact that they're already best-sellers? At some point does story cease to matter? Or do the rules change? Or could it be that these stories just aren't as good as their other stories?

What do you think?

Perspective

2007-04-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

Status: Still Sick

Perspective: It could be worse.

I hopped over (ok I'm sick so not really hopped) to Shelli Steven's blog at The Novelty Girls where she did a little piece on perspective. Her words penetrated the fog of my brain and got me thinking. As with what happened at Virginia Tech, life could be so much worse. We're so fortunate.

I thought I'd list 5 things I'm thankful for. Maybe you will too. :)

1) Family and friends and pets. I'd never be where I am without them
2) My writing buddies (and that includes those of you whom I blog with. Shelli, Lucy and even Erica...)
3) My boyfriend for all of his love and support
4) My job which puts up with me AND pays the bills even when I moan about it
5) Being alive and able to pursue my goals

What about you?

Ugh. Sick.

2007-04-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Must remember to thank boyfriend for this wonderful cold...

How are you all doing?

I've Got To Get A Clue

2007-04-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

It's been some time since I've blogged. :( Sorry about that. There has been so much going on in my life that I haven't had time to get near the computer, much less come up with a clue to blog about.

Shortly after I returned from Tampa and my grandfather's funeral, I began packing to move. I packed my books, I packed my clothes and I packed my cat. Actually, he went up several days before the rest of my belongings did. He's settling in so well too. Such a cutie, he streeeeetched on the living room floor of the new house and made himself right at home!

Then last weekend, I packed my heart out and moved my stuff on Saturday. Can you say dead-tired? It's so nice to be living with the boyfriend though. I got to the pathetic point of missing him all the time, and that's when I knew that the time had come to take the plunge. The only problem with moving is that I have to get up an hour earlier for work. Yikes!

Ok, this is turning into stream of conscious writing so I'll end with what's up on the writing front: Nothing.

Like I said, I haven't gone near a computer. *sigh* I really need to get back into it. My novel is out with my writing group and hopefully I'll be hearing back something soon. I'm really nervous about trying to pitch it at Nationals. I feel like it's not good enough for publication. I think the best thing for me is to just move on to the next project and not worry about this one so much. Doesn't that make sense?

In Loving Memory

2007-03-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

To Sunny Jim, you were the best grandpa a girl could have and you'll be deeply missed!

My grandfather passed away last night around 2 am. I fly back to Florida on Monday to attend his funeral and take care of my family. This is a tough time for us right now so I appreciate your prayers. Hugs to all! I should be back next Saturday.

Currently Reading

2007-03-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

I started a new book last night called The Nymph King. I'm two pages in (I was pretty tired last night) but so far the hero is hot! And verile. LOL Here's what it's about...

Enter a world of dark seduction and powerful magic . . . enter Atlantis . . .

Females young and old, beautiful and plain crave Valerian's touch. None can resist his blatant sensuality and potent allure . . . until he steals Shaye Holling from a Florida beach and holds her prisoner in his underwater kingdom.

The cynical Shaye wants nothing to do with the mighty warlord, but she's inexplicably drawn to him. For underneath the warrior's arrogant beauty lies a complex and powerful man. A man whose caress is like fire . . .

Now Valerian must fight for the privilege of claiming her as his own. Because there's one thing Shaye doesn't know . . . once a nymph finds his true mate, she's his forever.

Have any of you read this book? What did you think? What are you reading now?

Kids, Don't Try This At Home

2007-03-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

I love funny stories and am compelled to share them when they happen to me. If you're already feeling like you're in for it, well... you are.

So last Sunday, my beau and I took his two youngest boys out for dinner at Beau's favorite teriyaki restaurant. Dinner was good, but there was just so much food! Of course I had a to-go box. No big deal, right? Well this particular restaurant serves mints with the check. I took a mint. Whew... it was strong! I had just about made it out to the car when I realized that the mint was far too strong for me to finish. So I took it out of my mouth. But where to put it? No trash can in sight and we're at the car. I stuck it in the to-go box and promptly forgot about it. Beau took the boxes home with him.

Yesterday, Beau brings the boxes to work and asks me to join him for left-over teriyaki lunch. (Romantic, I know) Anyhow, I went. When I got to his work site, he was already heating up the lunches in the to-go box. No bells were going off in this girl's head... We sat down to lunch and I start eating.

Oddly enough, my rice tastes more like mint than teriyaki. So does the chicken. It takes me about 4 minutes to figure out that I'd left the mint (the one that went completely out of my memory) in the box! But the mint is no longer there. It evaporated in the microwaving process and infused itself into the teriyaki rice and chicken!!!

Now I'm laughing hysterically and have to share this crazy story with Beau and his oldest son who is also there. I tell them I'm brilliant. They agree but I'm not sure they mean it. I set the to-go box down on the file cabinet we're using for a table (I did mention this was a romantic lunch, right?) and Beau gets a good whiff of my minty-teriyaki lunch. He nearly gags and demands to know how I can eat it. Then promptly throws it away.

At this point, I can't eat his because his entree is already gone. Looks like lunch is over. He invites me to lunch on Friday to see if I can top this story. Of course, I accept. Who wouldn't?

So kids, don't try this at home. Not because it's dangerous by any stretch of the imagination but simply because the flavor combination of mint and teriyaki just isn't that good.

Who knew?

A Book I'd Like To Read

2007-03-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'm always joking about my to-be-read shelf breaking under the weight of how many books are on it (There's literally about 170) and my tendency to add more. Well, I've found another book that I want to buy. I think I'm going to have to sneak out and purchase it, else my roommate finds out and she threatens to take away all my books. LOL!

I found this particular book through Romance Designs which sends out daily excerpts from new books. This one caught my eye and the excerpts were great!

Eleven thousand years ago, before the seas swallowed the Atlantaens, Poseidon assigned a few chosen warriors to act as sentinels for humans in the new world. There was only one rule-desiring them was forbidden. But rules were made to be broken…

When she calls… Riley Dawson is more than a dedicated Virginia Beach social worker. She's blessed with a mind link that only Atlantaens have been able to access for thousands of years. Being an "empath" may explain her wistful connection to the roiling waves of the ocean, the sanctuary it provides, and the sexual urges that seem to emanate from fathoms below…

He will come. Conlan, the High Prince of Atlantis, has surfaced on a mission to retrieve Poseidon's stolen Trident. Yet something else has possessed Conlan: the intimate emotions-and desires-of a human. Irresistibly drawn to the uncanny beauty, Conlan soon shares more than his mind. But in the midst of a battle to reclaim Poseidon's power, how long can a forbidden love last between two different souls from two different worlds?

What books have caught your eye lately?

My Space

2007-03-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went against my own personal grain and signed up for a MySpace page. I did it because I was contacted by an old friend from Oklahoma who said she had a page and that I could check out her most recent pictures of her and her new baby. The only problem was, she had her page marked as private so the only way you could view it was to sign up.

Now I know that many authors are going to MySpace. It's a good communication tool and I get that. It still just seems like a place for kids and not a very good one at that! Maybe I'm wrong and the face of MySpace is changing. It still just seems so wrong! LOL I don't know how much I'm going to use it. But it's there. My screen name is AurroraStJames if anyone wants to take a gander. It's still the bare bones but we'll see what I do with it.

So how about you? How do you feel about MySpace and do you or will you have a page? What do you see as the possible benefits or downfall of a My Space page?

Florida Highlights

2007-03-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

Florida was spectacular as I mentioned in the last post. Originally, John and I went down for two reasons. First was to go to my cousin Jenna's wedding. Second, so that he could meet my family. (I've already met almost all of his so it was time to reciprocate)

We flew into Orlando on Thursday, Feb. 15th and were picked up from the airport by my parents. They took us out to a great steak dinner and things went really well. Mom and Joe really liked John. The following day, mom took me to her hairdresser so that I could get some highlights and a long over-due hair cut. To say I was shaggy was an understatement! Everything was going fine until we got a flat tire on the way out of the parking lot! John and Joe had to come rescue us. LOL They put on the donut tire and it too was flat. Lesson learned: always make sure the donut has air in it.

Saturday we went to Tampa for my cousin's wedding.

It was beautiful and lots of fun. Especially when my 10 year old cousin pulled the fire alarm and everyone had to be evacuated just when they were serving dinner. LOL Here's a picture of John and I at the wedding:

From there we went to visit one of his dear friends who lives in Tampa and drove back to my mom's house that evening.

Monday we were picked up by my dad and step-mom and went to Kennedy Space Center. We couldn't have picked a more beautiful day for it either. The skies were clear and blue and the scenery was just amazing. I saw three alligators and a bald eagle just while we were driving around. The space center has changed a lot since I was last there about ten years ago. They have a lot more for people to see and do and John really liked it. The thing I liked best was the rocket garden. (John said he didn't know that they grew rockets.) *rolls eyes* What a goofball!

Did any of you ever go on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disney? OMG, that's my dad's driving! John and I were holding on for dear life in the back seat. By the time we reached the restaurant where we were going to have dinner, I was cracking up. I wanted to jump out of the car and scream "LAND!" That man was all over the road, all over his lane, in the grass, not using turn signals... I swear he's getting worse with age. I told him so and Dad said that if I didn't like his driving then I should stay off the sidewalks. I swear he's as corny as John is. Hmmm... is there a pattern here?

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday John and I spent in St. Augustine with my mom and best friend Rhenae. It was so gorgeous with 70 degree weather and perfect blue skies. St. Augustine is the oldest city in America and has a lot of great history. We went to the old fort and saw Flagler College which used to be an old hotel. What a beautiful old city! Oh and mom paid for us to have a couple of rooms at a bed and breakfast right on the bay.

(I was having fun with my camera in sepia tone)

So we were very busy but had a lot of fun. All of my family and friends liked John which was a very good thing. Then we came back to 40 degrees and rain and wondered what we were doing here. LOL

Later, John told me that it was the best vacation that he had ever had with a girlfriend because all of the previous vacations were disasters. He had an amazing time with me and that really meant a lot.

Next up: Dallas for the RWA National conference! Who's going?

Back from sunny Florida!

2007-02-26T08:51:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I made it back safe and sound from Florida and let me tell you... a great time was had by all. I took John back with me to meet the family and it went really well! Everyone loved him and we had a fantastic time. I'll post some highlights of the trip just as soon as I download them from my camera. :)

Update: I also heard back from the Wild Rose Press who declined my story. They said that there was not enough romance in the story. This was something I was afraid of. They did however, say that I had a good voice and good writing mechanics, and that if I wanted to beef up the romance in the story, that they would review it again at a later date. :)

I'm a Nitwit And Other Odd Ramblings

2007-02-09T13:47:00.000-08:00

Lesa~Dragon asked me to post the Nitwit story. I can't believe I'm doing it, but here goes...

So the wonderful Wild Rose Press editor emailed me asking for my full manuscript of my short story, The Watcher. Commence freak-out. (OMG they actually want to see something! OMG they're probably going to reject it!) Once I begin breathing normally again, it's time to send out the manuscript. Only problem is, it's on my home computer not my work computer. So I must wait.

At home, I quickly pull up the email and reply to the editor with my glowing thanks for considering such a lowly story and author as my myself and attach the document. I check her name to be sure that I've spelled it right and hit the magic SEND button.

Commence freak-out part 2. (OMG I sent it in!)

The following day...

I go back into my email and check my sent folder to make certain that I didn't just dream the whole thing. Nope. There's my email in all of it's glory... except one tiny little details pokes its head up. Uh oh. Wasn't that file supposed to be in .rtf format? Oh sh!t. I quickly pull up the guidelines from The Wild Rose Press. Yep. It definitely should be in .rtf format AND I didn't even send the manuscript that is broken into chapters! I sent the word document in .doc format with no chapters.

Commence freak-out part 3. (OMG I'm a nitwit!!!)

Now what? *deep sigh and bang head on desk* Ok, this is fixable. All I have to do is email the editor and tell her that I'm a nitwit, this time attaching the correct file. No big deal. (I'm such a nitwit). But should I do it now or wait a couple of days? Sucking it up, I resend, triple check everything and send...

Two weeks now and I haven't heard from her to know if she received the new email. I may be rejected based on the fact that I'm a nitwit, but I'm ok with that. It's all a learning experience.

Now on to other ramblings. I'm not going to bore you all with the details of what's going on in my life right now. Let's just say that there is a lot going on in the brain right now and not all of it is good. I'm tired all of the time and just not motivated to edit 400 pages. Fortunately I'll be able to take manuscript with me to Florida next week and work on it some then. (Freak-out #4 coming soon to a blog near you... my boyfriend is meeting my parents!)

I guess I should end with something writerly. I don't have any wisdom to share except quadruple check your attachments before you send them and make sure to put contact information for yourself down. I do have a question though. Thinking back on your life and your loves, have you ever wanted to include someone in one of your stories and give them an HEA?

I've got one. It will be the HEA I never had with him but always wanted. Anyone else?

Crazy?

2007-01-24T13:30:00.000-08:00

So, my first query letter went out today. It wasn't for The Crystal Princess but for a short story called The Watcher. I'm going to start editing TCP here soon. I've got a ton of notes of things that I know need to go into the story and stuff that should definitely come out. But that's not what this post is about is it?

I submitted The Watcher to The Wild Rose Press. My good friend Ellen sold to them just recently. Driven by her success, I sent in my own. I'm pretty sure that it's going to get rejected, but that's ok. It'll be my first rejection. Everyone has to have at least one. Better to get it over and done with now. I don't think the story has enough romance in it. We'll see what they say. (Hence why I'm feeling I was crazy to do this.)

It's all uphill from here, right?

I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-01-15T14:42:00.000-08:00

THE END

I now join the very good company of Honey in completing a manuscript! I'm so excited I'm bouncing off the walls! Woo Hoo!!!

Here's what it's about:

The Crystal Princess

Adreana Jerada has spent ten years crafting a new life for herself. She has a beautiful home on the sparsely populated planet of Foros and spends her time mining crystal so that she can buy children out of slavery. Her life is perfect until the day she buys a military captain to help her raise money to send one of the children back to his family.

Caspian Van Ryn has a secret. He knows who the traitor is that has sold out his people to the enemy. In a war ridden time, the very last thing he expects is to be injured and sold into slavery. When he's picked up by a beautiful woman, he never expects to lose his heart.

But when a search team arrives looking for a woman who looks just like Drena, Caspian find out more than he expected. Could she be the one to end the war?

Insert Post Here

2007-01-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

I've been writing like crazy lately and as such forget to come up with new and insightful things to say on the blog. Ok, new anyway. Yet at the same time I don't want this to be a dead zone. So today I'm going to ask what you do with your writing ideas.

Now before you break out the "DUH, we use them!" remarks, what I mean to ask is this: Once you get a neat idea in your noodle... what then? Do you write it down in a trusty idea book? Do you let it simmer in the back of your mind? If so, how long does the idea need to simmer before you're ready to write it? Do you start writing on it immediately and drop whatever projects you currently had going? How many ideas do you come up with a year and when are they ready to write?

I've always thought for me that my ideas take at least a year to simmer. But now I'm starting to question if that's just laziness on my part? I'm almost done with a book and starting to worry about how often I'm going to have new ideas for the next project! (Who me? Worry? Never!) Someone just smack me...

So what about your ideas? How long until they're ready to harvest?

Think Of All The Good

2007-01-04T08:19:00.000-08:00

*Quick, name 3 good things that happened to you in 2006!

Here are mine:

1. I went to the RWA National Conference in Atlanta

2. I met a great guy and am still dating him!

3. I found some serious dedication to my WIP and have almost completed the novel

What are yours?

*Idea totally pilfered from Shelli Steven's blog. Thanks Shelli!

What I Learned From the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nora Roberts

2007-01-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

I mentioned this over on the Alphabet Girls Blog about a week ago, but I really feel that this is important, particularly in this time of resolutions being made and broken.

My boyfriend got a Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits cd for Christmas and as he was reading through the material inside the cd jacket, he came across something that he read out loud to me. When asked how the Chili Peppers have stayed such a strong, growing band over the years, their answer was that while other bands were out spending their money, the Chili Peppers were back in the studio working hard on their next album. This opened up a revelation to me.

I started thinking about Nora Roberts. I don't know if this is true or not, but I've heard that she writes every day of the year, even on Christmas. Now even if this isn't true, the woman is very dedicated to her craft. While others are out spending their money, she's "back in the studio" or in this case her office, working on her next book. She's dedicated. As are hundreds of other writers and I would bet money that those very writers are the ones with long term, profitable writing careers.

(If you're following along with my math, Red Hot Chili Peppers + Nora Roberts = Long Career)

This may seem like a "DUH" answer to some, but I realized that the real key to writing success and longevity as an author is being at that desk, writing every day or close to it. It's dedication and taking the time to work at and perfect your writing craft. It's going to conferences and workshops and taking away those things that actually work for you and then putting them into practical, every day use.

(This means also that Dedication + Work = Long Career)

To sum it all up (mostly so that you can stop rolling your eyes at me), work hard. Take writing seriously if you plan to seriously make a living at it. Make time for it and spend time on it every day if you can. Be prolific. And most of all, enjoy what you're doing. You know that the Chili Peppers and Nora Roberts must love what they do or they wouldn't still be doing it!

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T20:59:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year! May this year see your goals reached, your lives uplifted, and your smiles bright!

Manuscripts

2006-12-28T17:31:00.000-08:00

How do you know when a story is good enough to send out? I'm at about 80% complete with my novel and it's going along fairly well. I know that it's going to need some major revisions if for no other reason that some of the inconsistencies that need to be fixed and layers to be added. Once I'm done with a couple of revisions and send it out to the AG's for review, I'm about ready to submit it.

But then, how do you know if it's good enough to send out? What if it royally stinketh? Maybe you never really know until you try, but is there some inner guide that tells an author to shelve it or is that just a cop out for being afraid to send it? Am I making any sense? I mean, I think this story is pretty good. What if I'm just delusional? LOL Should I go for the gusto anyway and just send it, rejections be damned?

What do you think? How can you tell the difference between really bad (and really deluded) and good enough to send?

Christmas Wishes

2006-12-20T08:46:00.000-08:00

On sale now! Check out Shelli Stevens in Christmas Wishes!

Once Upon a Snowflake / Shelli Stevens – Stevens tells a light hearted tale featuring a young woman and her son who find the perfect home for Christmas – and strong arms to keep her safe and warm all winter long.

Discover the pure joy of the Christmas season. With Christmas Wishes magic is possible...especially love. Make a Wish! 12 Authors, 12 Stories Christmas past to Christmas present Guaranteed to Delight!

On a side note, I visited Shelli at the Lynnwood Borders for her book signing and bought the book for myself. It was a great time and lots of fun was had by all. Check out her blog about it, entitled Runny Nose Sunnyday!

The Alphabet Girls

2006-12-14T08:49:00.000-08:00

I'm over at The Alphabet Girls today talking about Muses. Come by and see me!

Bitten by the Bug

2006-12-11T21:13:00.000-08:00

I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but sometime after I returned from the National RWA conference in Atlanta at the end of July, I was bitten by the writing bug. Coincidentally, at the same time I was also moved into a new, boring position at work that allows for little creativity. (It's possible that my natural creativity became so bored at work that it had to explode out onto the page, but I'm just not sure. LOL)

For instance, in the last 9 days, I wrote 30 pages. That has to be a new record for me. The words, for the most part, are just flowing from my fingers. I should be done writing my first book by mid-January. I've got about 100 pages or 5 chapters left. That's incredible, considering that I had only a few chapters at the beginning of this year.

One thing that I really noticed that helped was setting weekly goals. That started with the KIA Marathon over at RWA Online. As part of the challenge, I set weekly page goals for myself and you know what? It worked! During the month of October, I wrote 45 pages. Not bad for a part-timer, huh? I followed that up with another 47 pages during the month of November. If I keep going like I'm going, I'll exceed that this month, even WITH all the Christmas shopping! LOL

Another thing that I found working for me is to plot just a little. Just enough of a roadmap to get me where I'm going. I am not a plot out 80 pages and then write the book kind of gal. Alternately, I get stuck if I try to just write by the seat of my pants. I end up floundering like a fish out of water. So I jot down a few notes of what happens next, then fill in the blanks.

Writing this first book has been a wonderful process. I've learned about myself and what works for me. When I get to revision, I'll figure out that too. I've found a certain kind of joy in meeting my goals and watching that word meter grow by the week. I'm elated.

So what about you? What works for you and how did you find it out?

Snow Angels

2006-12-08T08:16:00.000-08:00

My good friend Ellen has published a wonderful short story called Snow Angels. It's available today from The Wild Rose Press for $1.50. Go check it out!

Ava Carrolton has decided to make her own fate this holiday season. Tired of being alone and hoping to find love, she finally agrees to date the dashing and persistent owner of the department store where she works. Who wouldn’t enjoy spending time with a man who looks like a GQ model? But, she has one misgiving. She doesn’t feel The Spark with Mr. Debonair, so how is she to know if he’s The One?

When Ava literally bumps into Noah Shepard, every girl’s definition of The Boy Next Door, they form an unlikely friendship. As they bond, Noah seems to transform through Ava’s eyes. His thick frame glasses and shy stutters fade away, while a knight in shining armor emerges. Will Ava choose excitement and security with the handsome store owner, or a lifetime of making snow angels with a man who’s anything but ordinary?

How Much?

2006-12-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

Today I decided to bite the bullet and sign up for the pay version of Publishers Lunch. I admit that my main motivation was that I wanted to see what kinds of deals authors out there were making. While I should have put it off another month for financial reasons, I simply couldn't wait and signed up. Now I'm glad that I did!

In searching through the deals, I came across an author that I met briefly at a book signing who recently sold several books to a top publisher in a huge deal. Quickly scrolling down, I realized that the key for said deal was in the six digit range. SIX DIGITS!!! Do you know what I would do for that kind of money from my writing?

That in itself was inspiration. But it also got me thinking. What expectations did I have for myself when it came to getting paid for my writing? Honestly? Gosh, first I'm really hoping that I sell, and then I'm hoping that one day, maybe in 5 years, I'll be making about $35,000 or enough to stay home and write full time. (That's way more than I make right now) That's my goal: to make enough to write from home. Now I'm wondering, is that goal to small? Shouldn't I be reaching for the stars or am I just being practical so that I don't bomb out and be disappointed?

Some of you are very fortunate (read: lucky b@st@rds) and can stay home to write. For many of you, I know that means sacrifice and at times it really isn't the luxury it seems. For me, I have to work for that. I have to get my butt into that chair and work at night, writing away, so that hopefully one day I can stay home and write full time. Every day when I come to work I hope that day is soon. That's part of my motivation also. (Please understand that I'm not whining or complaining but putting that envy to use) But wouldn't it be fabulous to actually make money at your writing? To be making a steady income in royalties?

What about you? What are your money goals? How are they affected by your lifestyle and family? What are your dreams for yourself?

Monday Morning Blog Hop And A Tribute

2006-12-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

So here it is Monday, I'm at work, and things are already going oh-so-ducky, which follows right on the heels of a weekend with some definite ups and downs.

Sadly, we had to put down one of my favorite kitties: The Moo Man.

Here's to you, Moo. You were the best kitty I know!

*sniff*

Ok, on to the Blog Hopping before I start crying again.

****************************************************************

After all of this, I need a pick-me-up. So without further ado, I give you Dishy Guy Mondays at Katie MacAlister's blog. Today's DGM is well worth the visit!

Tagged Again!

2006-11-30T13:22:00.000-08:00

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate with french vanilla creamer OR real hot chocolate made with milk.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps the presents. When have you ever seen a tree with unwrapped presents underneath?

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White

4. Do you hang mistletoe? I might this year. ;)

5. When do you put your decorations up? Before Christmas... if I'm lucky.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Turkey, turkey and more turkey!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Getting a brand new bike that had a sky blue seat with clouds.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Some kid at school told me so I ask my parents. I think I was six.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Traditionally, we open one simply because my mom could never wait to give us gifts! LOL

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Lights, miscellaneous ornaments ranging from ones I did when I was a kid to Hallmark ornaments, and a ceramic angel on top.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? LOVE IT!!

12. Can you ice skate? I can get about 6ft before falling down on ice skates, does that count?

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? No, they're all special.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? The giving and the gathering of family and friends. Love is such a big part of it and people forget that. Oh yeah, and the shopping!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? My Grandmother's sandtart cookies. (Before she passed away)

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Baking day with my mom.

17. What tops your tree? An Angel that is ceramic with a gold ribbon at the bottom of her dress.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Winter Wonderland or Oh Holy Night

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Yum

Now to tag another who just can't wait to fill this out... who should I tag??? Ok, let's see if Lesa~Dragon or Shelli Stevens are up to the holiday challenge!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

Have a wonderful day!

65% And Counting!

2006-11-20T08:43:00.000-08:00

I knew that writing a novel wouldn't be easy, but in truth I had no idea just how hard it was going to be. It surprised me that it takes as long as it does to write it. As of right (write?) now, I'm on chapter 13 of about 20 and have roughly 140 pages left to write. That's a lot for anyone who's counting, like I am. Some days the words just flow out of me and it's wonderful and amazing. Other days I have to force them out one stinking word at a time. It's discipline which is something I don't have a lot of. It's tiring and annoying and sometimes even dreadful.

Yet at the same time, there is a joy that comes with writing. A joy of completion when I've written 15 pages like I did this weekend. I met my weekly goal in 2 days and there's something so joyful about that that I want to sing and dance. I did great and I'm so proud of myself! And if I can keep it up for 10 more weeks, I'll be done. Big IF. We are approaching the holidays afterall.

One of my favor authors, Cherry Adair, says to never let it take longer than 9 months to write a book. After all, if you can cook a baby in 9 months, you sure as heck better be able to write a book, even if you're writing part time. The editors want someone prolific, right? Well I've spent 2 years on this book, 1-1/2 of which was spent NOT writing. Slacking. That kind of thing. I've really only put my energy into this story since I came back from Nationals in Atlanta. I don't know what changed, but I feel the fire to complete this book, if only to prove to myself that I can do it. Besides, I figure that if I can finish 1, then I can finish another. And another. It has to get easier at some point, even if only marginally easier. LOL I'm a writer after all. It's what I do. Truthfully, I'm not sure I can do anything else.

Ok, enough rambling from me. How hard has it been for you to write your story? Does it flow easy? Do you have to drag it out? A mixture of both? Do you have no idea what I'm talking about because writing for you is like breathing and therefore I'm forced to hate you? LOL Tell me about how you write. I want to know that I'm not alone in this crazy venture to be published!

Letting Go...

2006-11-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

It's damn hard, you know? To let that first love go. Especially when you see him every couple of weeks. His smile, his laugh. All those things I loved are still there. They always will be, just like the small spark of love in my heart.

I have a new love now and he's wonderful. It's a different kind of love though. It builds instead of ignites into immediate flames. He's a regular guy and he treats me so well. I'm lucky. Actually, I'm lucky to have had both men in my life.

Maybe that's why #1 still brings tears to my eyes every time I see him...

Tagged...

2006-11-07T09:01:00.000-08:00

The lovely Kristen tagged me to write 5 fairly interesting things about myself for all to see. Let's prepare! Knees knocking? Check. Fingers shaking? Check. Brain blank for interesting things? Check. Ok, we're all set.

Here we go:

1. I spent two months in Albania when I was 19 doing mission work.

2. I wanted to be an Archeologist when I was a kid, so I collected news articles in a photo album about all the finds around the world.

3. I took 3rd place in our county competition for karate when I was 9 and used to play with nunchucks and my dad's throwing stars... just for fun.

4. I learned how to fence when I was 6 and how to do archery when I was 10.

5. I've got 2 stories published in a Witchblade Fanfiction book that was compiled and given to some of the cast members of the show.

Wow, that was nearly as hard as I thought it might be. All due to the morning coffee, no doubt! LOL

Now I tag LesaDragon and Shelli Stevens. :)

One Down, One To Go

2006-11-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

Now that Halloween has passed... you know what is next. Store are already pulling out their Christmas goods and plastering the aisles with them. My mom has already called to ask what I want, and from there, there is no escape!

Thanksgiving? What's that? It's a blip on the road to Christmas apparently. We'll just sail right through it, eat some good food, and hit the After Turkey-Day sales to stock up on what else? Christmas goods.

So in thinking about that list Mom wants, I decided to hit the internet. Where better to find all those things you can't use but really want anyhow?

Here's what's topping my list:

Duh-duh-duuuuuuuuuuh! It's Darth Tater!! RUN!!!

LOL

What's on yours?

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T14:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween everyone!

Updated Halloween Costumes

2006-10-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, Dorothy just isn't going to work and I don't have time to make it. So instead... I'm going as Maid Marion. I bought this costume and plan to wear it without the crown and crazy yellow thing. Note that I am not a fan of a crazy yellow tutu thing. It looked horrible and I was compelled to dance like a sugar plum fairy. (My roomie may not recover from that one)

Anyway, the party is tomorrow night. Bach #2 is going as Jack from 24. It should be a lot of fun! I'll try to get some pictures up here. :)

So what are you for Halloween?

Halloween

2006-10-19T15:35:00.000-07:00

As my dear friend Honey pointed out on her blog... it's a wonderful October day. The weather is cool and rainy. It's my favorite time of year. Not just because my birthday is this month (although I'm sure that helps) but because I love the change in the weather. I love the leaves beginning to change and the cool air flowing in to remind you that the holidays are on the way. It's beautiful.

And let's not forget about Halloween!

Isn't dressing up and going to a party so much fun? Or for those of you with children, isn't there an unmatched level of excitement about dressing up for a night of trick or treating?

This year, Bachelor #2 and I are going to his friend's house for a Halloween party. The theme is Movie characters or Actors and Actresses. I've decided to go as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I think he's going as Keifer Sutherland. (Yum!) I'll post a picture here of us all dressed up.

So what about you? Are you dressing up for Halloween? Doing anything special?

The Fabulous ECWC

2006-10-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has never been to the Emerald City Writers Conference in October should seriously think of attending. It is a wonderful conference full of friendly people, great workshops and raffle baskets to die for! My roomie and I attended the conference this last weekend in Bellevue, WA and had a great time.

Friday we met some new people, enjoyed a good dinner and heard an inspiring speach by Stella Cameron. There were workshops and raffle tickets to buy. Did I mention the fabulous raffle baskets?

Saturday, the conference provides a full breakfast and lunch with keynote speaker Vicki Lewis Thompson who was very funny. Plus a full day of workshops ranging from beginner topics to the more advanced like the business of writing. The evening ended with a book signing with some of my favorite authors like Cherry Adair and Katie McAllister and karaoke in the bar. Let me just say that if you've never seen conservative writers banging their heads to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, it's not to be missed. It was the funniest thing I've seen in some time.

Sunday was packed with more workshops and great food. Did I mention the raffle baskets? How about the desserts that were to die for? The afternoon ended with Cherry Adair as the closing speaker who very generously supported the ECWC by drawing 3 names to pay for next year's conference fees. She's fabulous!

Oh, and I won the Cherry Adair raffle basket. :)

It's a wonderful conference and I highly recommend it! Please consider going next year. You won't regret it. You'll come away energized and excited about your writing, with new friends, totally stuffed, and delighted to be called a writer. :)

KIA Marathon

2006-10-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

It's time again for the KIA marathon which the good ladies over at RWA Online put on every October. The challenge is to write as much as you can every week. Those who sign up are put into groups by category and full or part time.

This year, I decided to go for it. What the heck, right? How else will I finish this damn book if I don't write it? So, determination in hand, I signed myself up for the PT paranormal group. (It's the only group that fits a sci-fi/fantasy.) I even have Pam Trader in my group! (She's an honorary Alphabet Girl)

Week one: The challenge is to write 5 pages.

My goal: 8 pages

Pages as of today: 5

I think I have a great chance of making my goal!

So are any of you writing in the KIA? If not, do you have specific writing goals for this week?

Someone Should Really Stop Me...

2006-09-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it. I'm a Lane Bryant clothing addict. Or maybe just a clothing addict in general. Now I'm not one of those women who buy something once a week. I don't even buy once a month. Usually once a quarter. But boy when I buy, I buy!

Take today for example: I received an email saying that I got the employee discount of 40% off my entire order for today only. Could I simply read the email and walk away? Oh no. Not me. I had to explore (oh look- 40% off... I wonder what they have?), then I had to add to the cart... (I'll just put it in here to remind myself what I like) and (oh! I just saw that in Figure Magazine and really liked it). Then came "Well it is 40% off the order. That's almost as good as half off, which is just like buying on clearance which I normally do anyway..."

Do you get where I'm going with all of this?

The part that makes me a clothing addict is that I really can't afford to buy new clothing right now. I had to put it on my credit card. My Lane Bryant credit card that is. Which I didn't even have WITH me. But did that deter? Oh no. I just called up my roommate and had her look up the number. I was only going to see how much the discount was going to be... honest.

*sigh*

So, $190 later...

I have 3 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, a jacket, a shrug, and the rational that if they don't fit, at least I can return them, right?

Oh, and I did write 5 pages yesterday.

(So does this count as a reward?) :)

Goals

2006-09-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

My goal for this last weekend was to break 35,000 words on my manuscript. I put in the last 375 words tonight and am calling it a completed goal. (I would have written them yesterday but I was driving for 8 hours) So, in celebration, I'm going to get a (desperately needed) pedicure.

My next goal is just for tomorrow: to write 675 words. The reward: to read more of my book.

What is your goal and reward for the week?

Thursday Field Trip

2006-08-31T09:54:00.000-07:00

Today's field trip is inspired by the many wrongs in life and designed to brighten your day...

Evil, evil, evil!

Enjoy. :)

So We're Cutting Your Paycheck...

2006-08-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

Me: So am I receiving the supplemental pay (for doing part of the buyer job) this month? Because I didn't see the form.

Them: We told you that once the new Buyer was hired that it would stop. So we're not signing it.

Me: Yep, you said that in FEBRUARY. I get paid next week. It would have been nice to have a little warning that you were going to cut my paycheck by $200.

Them: We told you to update your job description and turn it in so that we might get you a higher salary. You didn't and we're not signing the supplement this month.

Me: I did. I turned it in at the end of June and you said it wasn't detailed enough. Plus, it really isn't my responsibility to write my own job description, is it? And even if it is, had you told me that you weren't planning to give me the supplemental pay this month, I certainly would have turned in the job description earlier. (I'm not going to screw myself out of money). I'd also like to mention that I've spent at least 15 hours training the new buyer...

Them: We'll think about it.

Me: I had no idea that $2oo would break the *&$^^*# bank...

--------

I'm sorry for bitching so much on this blog, but I honestly want to know if anyone else goes through this kind of crap. I even went to our HR department about things like this. Their decision: Get a new job. Not "we'll see what we can do to help", but "get a new job". Gee... thanks. Why do companies insist on keeping the people who aren't beneficial and letting go the good employees? It's no wonder that most Americans aren't happy in their jobs.

--------

End of bitchfest.

Characters

2006-08-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went to Florida to visit family and took a couple of books for the long plane trip. First, I finished Touch of Passion, by Susan Spencer Paul. I loved that book! The characters were believable and had tremendous amounts of growth. They were fun and enjoyable and I didn't want the book to end.

Next, I started The Waterlord, by Dawn Thompson. I'd post a picture of it, but Blogger's being a pain. Anyhow, I'm halfway through the book and I really don't like the characters. The heroine, Becca, is on the extreme side of prim and proper. She even puts herself back in the hands of her father that she's running from, just because she's feeling a little lust. The hero, Klaus, is bi-polar I think. One moment he's being very sweet to Becca, the next he's yelling and snapping at his servants. Add to that the constant feeling of "Isn't this book over yet?" and I'm starting to think that it'll be a real challenge to finish reading the book.

(I did pick up Cherry Adair's "Edge of Danger" for the flight home and read it in two days. Great book!)

Now in Ms. Thompson's defense, I LOVED her previous book, The Ravencliff Bride. So I was very excited when the Waterlord came out. Now I'm a bit disappointed. She has a book called The Falcon's Bride coming out next month. I'll go ahead and pick it up, just to give her another shot.

What about you? Is there an author that had a great first book and the second didn't captivate you? What is it that you love in characters and what don't you like? What makes a great hero, heroine, and villain?

Writing, Atlanta, and More...

2006-08-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

The word meter has finally moved!!! And by 4,000 words no less. Woo hoo!!

Yep, I'm writing again. Thanks to boredom on the plane going to Atlanta and a fantastic National Conference. The comradery and sense of belonging that I felt was amazing. The workshops were wonderful and the book signings even better. (Who's a book whore? Couldn't be me...)

Thanks muchly to the AG Girls who went. You made all of the difference. :) To those who couldn't attend- we really missed you and would have had an incredible time had you been there. Maybe next year? (hint, hint)

So look forward to that word meter moving often. :)

Gone Fishin'...

2006-07-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

... in Atlanta for new ideas and inspiration.

Will return Monday, July 31st.

~ Mgmt.

Betrayal and the Lowly Employee

2006-07-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I can probably blog about other things than work, but not today. We're moving to another building so things are already stressful. Add in all the stress between me and my boss and it's only a matter of time before the volcano blows.

I was never sure why, but I knew that things had changed between she and I since things have been getting progressively worse. I've worked my ass off since my coworker left 8 months ago and they never hired anyone to replace her (until last week). Instead of gaining more respect I've been steadily losing it.

Today I found out why.

In late October of last year, when my boss was on vacation, my coworker and I went to her boss at our wit's end because our boss was just treating us so badly and wouldn't listen to us when we tried to talk to her about it. Her boss confronted her on it when she returned from vacation. We knew she was pist because she didn't talk to us for a week.

Now I know that she felt betrayed by us. She told someone who is looking out for me (and I'm sure that this isn't the only person that she's told) that my coworker and I went to her boss and said a bunch of bad things about her. We betrayed her in her eyes and we're joining a long list of people that betrayed her.

Her ex-husband and her ex-boyfriend both cheated on her. She's never forgiven them. She's not forgiving me.

If I had known that going to her boss for help would cause me so much grief, I'd never have done it. I had no idea that things would escalate to the point that they have. But I do know two things:

1. I've committed an unforgiveable sin against her by trying to help myself

2. I didn't get the buyer job because of it.

So, the questions are... at what point do I quit fighting this losing battle and cut my losses, and would I just be letting her win if I did? She wants me to quit, I'm sure of it. She'd fire me if she could. Lucky for me she can't.

And lastly, what do I do now?

*sigh*

Not the Buyer

2006-07-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

So, many of you know that I've been extremely busy the last eight months because my co-worker quit and I've been doing both her job and my own to the best of my ability. After months of waiting for the Buyer job to be posted, it finally was in June.

I hadn't intended to apply because I knew that my boss didn't think I was qualified for it. She told me several times. Not in a "Don't even bother" way, but more of a "Once we get a qualified person in to do that job, you won't have to do both anymore..." kind of thing.

So, since I wasn't a qualified person to do the job that I was currently doing, why apply? Well, apparently I'm a glutton for punishment. My boss's boss encouraged me, several people in the office encouraged me, and so did my boyfriend... so I did it. I applied.

Had an interview.

Didn't get the job.

Guess what? I'm still not qualified for the job I've been doing for eight months. Does this make sense to anyone? It sure doesn't to me. I found out yesterday that they hired the woman that my boss really liked for the job. My boss says she has nothing to do with it, but I just don't know how much I believe.

I was ok with the decision, knowing that I would still have a job as an accounting assistant and get to sit by my friend Freda. Apparently that isn't going to happen either. Freda is moving to a different desk, so I'll be sitting in a corner by myself, with a few work-study students whenever they are there.

On second thought, maybe it's a good thing. Maybe I don't want to talk to any of those people anyway...

Maybe I should start looking for a new job when I get back from Florida in August...

Oregon Trip

2006-06-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

The Oregon Coast is really beautiful. I've heard that it was and recall the scenery from The Goonies, but you really have to experience it first hand.

John (Bachelor #2) and I went over Memorial Day weekend and it was better than I had imagined. It could have had something to do with an ultra-romantic weekend, but really... the view was spectacular! I highly recommend a trip there. From Astoria to Newport are some of the most beautiful places on earth. The cliffs are really something to see.

We had a great drive down from Seattle, pulled over at a number of places just to take pictures (Elk anyone?) and finally got to our destination: the Inn at Otter Rock. Here it is on the cliffs-

Gorgeous, isn't it?

We enjoyed a candlelit dinner at their restaurant that has incredible views of the water and saw a lighthouse off in the distance. Light piano music filled the room... it was perfect. :)

Sunday we went to Yaquina Bay Lighthouse and Heceta Head Lighthouse, both of which were beautiful and had great views. Heceta Head was the first lighthouse that John had been able to go up inside of, so that was very special. I've been to several of the lighthouses in North Carolina, but these had their own stature and elegance.

Then we had a relaxing evening and headed back home on Monday. What a beautiful, romantic place! The weather was overcast so it wasn't too hot and the touches of rain made it feel like a rain forest. It was the best weekend I've ever had and I'm so glad that I got to share it with John. He's so sweet to me. :)

Oh, and we saw the rock where One Eyed Willie was spotted. I can't leave that out. LOL!

You Know You're Over-due For An Update When...

2006-06-09T19:17:00.000-07:00

1) Things get eerily silent on the blog.

2) You're browser doesn't remember the address

3) Neither do you

4) You can't remember your password either

And finally...

5) You've posted every single blog thing quiz they have and ran out of new ones a month ago...

I'll have an update by tomorrow... I'm going to work on it now. :)

(She says as she secretly plans a trip to Dairy Queen instead...)

How's Your Self Esteem?

2006-05-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

You Have Low Self Esteem 60% of the Time

While you sometimes feel good about yourself, you tend to struggle a little with self esteem issues.It's not about changing who you are, it's about accepting your faults. You just need to be less critical and demanding of yourself!

How is Your Self Esteem?

The End Result...

2006-04-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

Bachelor #2 is a wonderful man. He is so sweet to me. And it turns out that we have a lot of things in common. He loves to play cribbage which is my favorite card game, we like similar movies, like to play games and do puzzles. He loves to go to the theater, so we're going to see an Agatha Christie play this weekend and going to his friend's birthday party. I'm even comfortable with him, which is really nice. I'm not easily comfortable around men. You know what else is really great about him? He fully believes in communication. He tells me what he's thinking, how he feels about me, what his plans are and makes plans with me. We've talked for hours on end. It's wonderful and yet odd because I've never dated someone like him before. It's refreshing. :)

I've met his kids too. They are wonderful and a lot of fun. They're teens- 19, 18, and twin 13s (all boys). They are great kids... although they could be robots. The twins rinsed their plates, put them in the dishwasher AND took out the garbage, all without shouting or whining... pretty amazing I thought. My sister's a good kid and I think she even fusses more than they did. Hence the reason they may be robots. ;) Ok, just kidding, but I was seriously impressed. They've warmed up to me too and that's a good feeling. Yesterday was only the second time I'd seen them and I got hugs from 3 of the 4 of them. :)

So I've got a fantastic man in my life, who treats me like gold which I'm not at all used to. He cares a lot for me and is just really sweet. He's got good kids and a nice place. I'm lucky. :)

Oh, and one other thing that just floored me to hear... I just found out that he liked me for a year before he asked me out! :O He says that he wasn't ready to date... which I totally understand. But wow... a year!! *blush*

The Dating Show Update

2006-03-30T13:41:00.000-08:00

Last Friday I received an email from Bachelor #1, withdrawing himself from the show. He's commitment-phobic, afraid of falling in love and being vulnerable, and feels like he is holding me back from finding the happiness that I deserve. We've had this conversation in the past, so I wasn't wholly surprised to have it again. It still hurts, but I had to let him go. I feel like I've done everything I possibly could, given everything I possibly could, and sometimes it's just not enough. I hope he finds the happiness he is looking for though. :)

Let's skip to Bachelor #3 next. He's hilarious, but I was just too uncomfortable because we work so closely. It felt like I was thinking about dating my boss. Too weird. We shrugged off the whole event and still work well together. Maybe later things won't be so strange for me. Who knows?

Finally there is Bachelor #2. He's really sweet and really likes me. We've gone to lunch a few times now and we're planning to do something this weekend. Although he's not as handsome as #1 and #3, I'm giving this one a chance. If nothing else, it's nice to have more friends, right?

I'll keep you posted!

What to do?

2006-03-18T11:50:00.000-08:00

I'm not exactly sure how I get myself into these situations, but I'm in one that is a real doozey and I don't know how to handle it.

Problem #1: 3 men like me (Mind you, I'm not complaining! LOL)

Problem #2: I've never had 3 men like me at once- this is a record for me. I went years without anyone liking me at all! I have no idea what to do!!!

It is interesting to note that all 3 men are over 40 and have kids. I'm only 31. There age doesn't bother me, but I have come to the conclusion that men under 40 are not attracted to me. I'm not really sure why, but I suspect it's because there are many more women out there much thinner than myself, which men in their 30s are still looking for. The only thing that does bother me just a twinge is that I'm not sure if I want to have kids, but I'm fairly certain that these 3 men are done in that department.

Ok, back to the guys.

Bachelor #1: (OMG I'm on the dating show and I just realized it! LOLOLOL) is 42 with 2 grown children (girls- 22 and 20). He doesn't want any more kids. He owns his own business, has a gorgeous house, and 2 cute dogs. We have a lot in common, including writing, that we don't eat seafood, and love to read. We laugh like crazy together and have similar sense of humors which I love. He's handsome, has an amazing vitality, and takes care of himself. He inspires me to take better care of myself too. He is also petrified of commitment thanks to his ex and is deeply afraid that he can't give me what I need long term. Or that he'll find himself in the same situation as the last one.

* Side note: I'm madly in love with him.

Bachelor #2: He is 45 with 4 kids (all boys- 19, 17, and twin 13s) He's very nice, not quite as handsome as Bachelor #1, but still sweet and caring. I work in the same department as him. He REALLY likes me. We went to lunch on Thursday and he came in Friday to see if I would have lunch with him again on Monday. I don't know a lot about him yet.

Bachelor #3: He is 43 with 3 kids (all boys- 20, 18, and 14). He is hilarious. We laugh all the time. I also work with him, although more closely than Bachelor #2 which is not as comfortable. He is an attractive man, sweet, funny, and I had no idea that he liked me until last night when a group of us went out for St. Patty's. He asked me to go get dinner with him 3 times. I didn't because I was uncomfortable and had a headache. We get along great. But do we work a little too closely together?

* Side note: Bachelor #2 and Bachelor #3 BOTH showed up at the restaurant last night and both sat by me. I'm pretty sure that it was only awkward for me, since only I know that they both like me, but ACK! LOL

Argh! What do I do? I know that I shouldn't burn the bridges with Bachelors # 2 and 3, but do I tell them that I'm sort of seeing Bachelor #1? Do I just tell them that I want to be friends? Do I drop Bachelor #1? Can I do that? (Not likely)

Any advice for one with little experience? Thanks!

Field Trip!

2006-03-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

I think we need to go on a field trip...

Back to the Asylum...

This game is so much fun! See if you can cure the Plushies of their problems. Just watch out for those drugs... Mwahahahaaaaaaaaa!

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

2006-03-12T15:33:00.000-08:00

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who have a split personality - cold as ice on the outside but hot as fire in the heart.

In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved.

You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic.
Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as something you don't need. You just feel like flirting around and playing right now.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

Japanese Personality Test

2006-02-19T11:39:00.000-08:00

This is a simple personality test, supposedly developed in ancient Japan. No one here claims to be learned in the social or psychological fields, but it is a fun test. Give it a try!

Japanese Personality Test

7-11

2006-01-25T19:16:00.000-08:00

7 things I can't get through the day without:

1) Coffee
2) Laughter
3) Dreams
4) Friends
5) Sleep
6) Reading
7) My computer
8) Anti-depressants

7 autobuy authors:

1) Christine Feehan (Dark Series)
2) Michele Jaffe (Arboretti Series)
3) Susan Spencer Paul
4) Katie MacAlister
5) Bonnie Vanak
6) Sharron McClellan
7) Teresa Medeiros

7 things I wish I invented:

1) The computer
2) Automobiles
3) Fire
4) The telephone
5) Paper
6) The oven
7) Books

7 movies we should be able to sue someone for wasted time:

1) Surf Nazis Must Die
2) Frankenfish
3) Brotherhood of the Wolf
4) Attack of the Killer Bimbos
5) From Dusk Til Dawn
6) The Blair Witch Project
7) Passionfish

7 things I like to eat but shouldn't:

1) Creampuffs by the bucket-full
2) Potato chips
3) Fastfood
4) Spaghetti
5) Soda
6) Anything greasy
7) Chocolate icecream

7 last books I've read lately: (Does this include books I'm still reading?)

1) Veil of Night by Lydia Joyce (Loved)
2) Dark Secret by Christine Feehan (Pretty good)
3) Ghost of My Dreams by Angie Ray (Funny)
4) The Corset Diaries by Katie MacAlister (Hilarious, but still reading)
5) The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe (Good, but I'm not finished reading it)
6) After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros (LOVED)
7) Touch of Passion by Susan Spencer Paul (LOVED)

I'll tag Rhoda (because her blog is begging me to) and Lisa~Dragon because she was creating her own list while I was trying to come up with mine. (See L~D, you're halfway done... no complaining for you!!!)

We're Going to the Superbowl!!

2006-01-22T19:24:00.000-08:00

GO SEAHAWKS!!!

Meet Timmy

2006-01-21T21:54:00.000-08:00

Meet Timmy the tiger, my new pet... and don't worry, he doesn't bite! ;)

What's Your Monster Name?

2006-01-16T21:55:00.000-08:00

http://monster.namedecoder.com/

My Blog Has Better Eyebrows Than I Do

2006-01-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

So I'm staring at my blog, trying to come up with something to put on it, when it occurs to me that my blog background has better eyebrows than I do. Why is that? Why can't my eyebrows do that?

I have blog eyebrow envy.

Eh... something to distract people from my insanity maybe....

*in best Sicillian voice* "What in the world could that be??"

*in best Dread Pirate Roberts voice* "What? Where?"

*in best Sicillian voice* "Oh nothing. It's just that my word count went up. Heh heh."

What's Your Temperment?

2006-01-05T09:54:00.000-08:00

You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament

Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace.You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions.You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected.
It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional.You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others.While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well.
At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything.You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams.You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.

What Temperment Are You?

What's in your stocking?

2005-12-22T20:14:00.000-08:00

Your Christmas Stocking Will Be Filled With Little Wrapped Presents

You've made Santa a very happy fellow this year.Don't worry - what happens at the North Pole stays at the North Pole!

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatwillbeinyourchristmasstockingquiz/"> What Will Be In Your Christmas Stocking?

Holiday Spirit

2005-12-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

Seems like the stress is extra heavy this year and there's a real lack of holiday spirit, not to mention friendliness. So I think it's time for a field trip...

It's create your own snoflake time!

http://www.popularfront.com/snowdays/index.html

Enjoy! And Happy Holidays!

New Word Count

2005-11-26T22:45:00.000-08:00

Woo hoo! I just cleared 20,000 words which is over 20% of the novel complete.

*Happy snoopy dance*

Happy Thanksgiving!

2005-11-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! May you all have a wonderful day filled with family, friends, and great food!

Fear and Loathing

2005-11-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

Why oh why is it so hard to ask someone out? Even if it's just to coffee? I'm a total chicken. There's a guy I'd like to get to know better and I really can't tell whether he likes me or not. He's cute so he probably has a girlfriend, but since I don't know, it's ok to ask, right?

Let's go back to I'm a total chicken. I had an excuse to go to his department today and I was comfortable even going to talk to him, but the more I stood there chatting, the more nervous I got until I practically ran from the room. How good does that look? *sigh* So I cut it short, ran for my life, and now am sitting here kicking myself for being an idiot. I want to just call him up and ask him to coffee, but after my earlier performance it doesn't seem like such a good idea. What's a lonely girl to do? (Since crawling under a rock was eliminated from my choices)

Aura's Antics

The Nerd Test

NaNoWriMo

Return of the Blogger

3 Things

Come On Baby, Let's Do The Twist!

S-L-A-C-K-E-R

The Week In Review

Uh Oh

Back Home!

Leaving, on a jet plane...

Happy 4th of July!

Work, work, work...

Tagged 8

Boys And Their Toys

And We're Back...

The Deadline Divas Are Down

Fieldtrip Day

Monday Moaning

Deadline Diva Day

A Walk In The Park?

The Writing Groove

Thursday Field Trip

When You See Me In Dallas...

Fieldtrip Thursday

*Thwack!*

On The Road Again

Thursday Field Trip

Generosity

Call For Goodies

Thursday Field Trip

Family Reviews

Tagged: Just the facts ma'am

Head Hopping

Submitted

Channeling Scooby Doo

Backstory and Other Odd Thoughts

Perspective

Ugh. Sick.

I've Got To Get A Clue

In Loving Memory

Currently Reading

Kids, Don't Try This At Home

A Book I'd Like To Read

My Space

Florida Highlights

Back from sunny Florida!

I'm a Nitwit And Other Odd Ramblings

Crazy?

I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Insert Post Here

Think Of All The Good

What I Learned From the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nora Roberts

Happy New Year!

Manuscripts

Christmas Wishes

The Alphabet Girls

Bitten by the Bug

Snow Angels

How Much?

Monday Morning Blog Hop And A Tribute

Tagged Again!

Happy Thanksgiving!

65% And Counting!

Letting Go...

Tagged...

One Down, One To Go

Happy Halloween!

Updated Halloween Costumes

Halloween

The Fabulous ECWC

KIA Marathon

Someone Should Really Stop Me...

Goals

Thursday Field Trip

So We're Cutting Your Paycheck...

Characters

Writing, Atlanta, and More...

Gone Fishin'...

Betrayal and the Lowly Employee

Thwack!